{"product_id":"9780632036424","title":"Systematics and the Fossil Record Documenting Evolutionary Patterns","description":"\u003ch1\u003eSystematics and the Fossil Record\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDocumenting Evolutionary Patterns\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAndrew B. Smith\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003eScience \/ Earth Sciences \/ Geology\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eThis new text sets out to establish the key role played by systematics in deciphering patterns of evolution from the fossil record. It begins by considering the nature of the species in the fossil record and then outlines recent advances in the methodology used to establish phylogenetics relationships, stressing why fossil evidence can be crucial. The way species are grouped into higher taxa, and how this affects their utility in evolutionary studies is also discussed. Because the fossil record abounds with sampling and preservational biases, the book emphasizes that observed patterns can rarely be taken at face value. It is argued that evolutionary trees, constructed from combining phylogenetic and biostratigraphic data, provide the best approach for investigating patterns of evolution through geologic time. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cul class=\"noindent\"\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe only integrated text covering the study of evolutionary patterns from a phylogenetic stance.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e Andrew B. Smith is associate professor in the Archaeology Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa. He received his Ph.D. in 1974 from the University of California, Berkeley, and has taught and worked in the United States, and many countries in north, west and southern Africa.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e21 June 1994\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWiley\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWiley-Blackwell\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9780632036424\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaperback \/ softback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e232\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e18.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Wiley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44310663331980,"sku":"9780632036424","price":111.56,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/9780632036424_aac0cbbd-d47e-444f-87a5-314117ac0ee0.jpg?v=1780234713","url":"https:\/\/lateknightbooks.com\/products\/9780632036424","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}